Transcript The Battle of Thermopylae - stephenspencer

The Battle of Thermopylae
The Aftermath of Marathon
• Spartans showed up two days after the battle was
over.
• Three reasons why the Spartans did not help earlier:
(There was more to it than a religious festival)
• Sparta disliked Athens
• Sparta afraid of a helot revolt.
• Sparta afraid the Persians would make them look weak.
• After the Persians left Marathon, they rushed to
Athens to catch them off guard, but Miltiades got the
troops back.
• When Darius saw that Miltiades made it back in time,
the Persians retreated back to Asia Minor.
• Ten years peace followed.
192 Athenians dead buried in ceremonial funeral mound
still there today!
Background to Thermopylae
• The Greek leader Miltiades was wounded
at Marathon so the Greeks were in need.
• The leaders following Miltiades were all
weak so they were ostracized.
• Themistocles was the new leader.
– He was very strong and could act quickly to
respond to difficult situations.
• Silver mines were found outside Athens
which helped strengthen the military.
Themistocles
What to do with the cash?
• Themistocles put a lot of money from the
silver into building up the army to 100,000150,000 men and building 200 warships.
(Triremes)
• The Athenians were not going to attack, they
were on the defensive waiting for Persia to
attack.
Persian Wars
http://www.rom.gr/ROM7/images/afisa01.jpg
Persia Thirst for Revenge
• Persia also had a new leader. Darius was out
and Xerxes was in. (Son of Darius & Grandson
of Cyrus)
• 3 Theories around Darius
– He was a weak leader (losing to Athens – Kicked out)
– Too old to keep up.
– Died
• Son, “Xerxes,” grows up vowing to revenge his
father’s loss. Forces slave to follow him,
constantly whispering “Remember the Athenians”
for next 10 years!
Xerxes assumes power and amasses huge army over
200,000+ strong
and 1000 ships!
Cooperation Among Greece
• Athenians hear about Xerxes’ thirst for revenge
they look for help.
• Get many other Greek Polis to agree to help. 1st
time wide scale co-operation between the
Greeks…
• Sparta and Athens decided to work together to
fight the Persians.
– Sparta had a very strong army
– Athens had a strong navy.
Deja Vu
• Once again, Greeks heavily outnumbered.
Persians
Greeks
7300
200,000
Infantry
1200
Navy
200
20,000
Cavalry
0
(300 Spartans)
• The Spartans were led by Leonidas, the
King of Sparta. His troops were the
ultimate warriors.
Thermopylae
The Battle at Thermopylae
• August of 480 BC
• The Greeks were waiting for the Persians
at Thermopylae.
• (If the Persians wanted to get into mainland
Greece they would have to take this pass.)
• Xerxes sat on a golden throne atop the
pass to watch the battle.
• For the first two days the 7300 Greek
soldiers were able to hold off the Persians,
slaughtering the Persians. (Even Xerxes’ elite
“Immortals”)
A Traitor Among the Greeks
• A Greek soldier betrayed the Greeks and
showed Xerxes a path that would lead the
Persian troops behind the Greeks.
• Leonidas sends the Athenians home
knowing they are going to lose.
• This way the Athenians could defend the
city.
• The Persians slaughtered the remaining
Spartans, all were killed.
Persian Wars
Xerxes, with over 200,000 soldiers, hears about the
Spartans lounging around, combing their hair, etc…
Assumes that must be a trick when told there’s only 300
waiting.
Doesn’t dare attack. Until he’s told…
Spartan tradition of being well groomed before death.
He sends messenger vowing to be lenient with the
Spartans if they allow army to cross.
When Spartans refuse, he becomes angry,
having the messenger scream out:
“Our arrows will be so thick, they will
block out the sun!”
Leonidas responds:
“So much the better, it’s hot and we prefer to fight in the shade".
Persian Wars
King Leonidas reportedly informs his
Spartans:
"Breakfast well, for we shall dine in
Hades."
Wave after wave of Persians attack.
King Leonidas one of 1st killed.
4 times the Spartans prevented the
Persians from grabbing the king’s body.
Finally, with spears broken, blades, dull
and hands broken…
All Spartans were eventually killed…
View this site:
http://www.fanaticus.org/DBA/eyecandy/camps/camp54.html
“The last stand…..
Leonidas
Statue of Leonidas in Sparta today.
Decisive Battles Video
Decisive Battles - Thermopylae 480 BC
Thermopylae Video
Battle Day 2
Battle Day 3
Where Next?
• Xerxes had free passage to Athens now that the
pass at Thermopylae was taken.
• He moved on to Athens and sacked and burned the
Acropolis including the Temple of Athena.
• Athenians realize how vulnerable they have
become.
• Evacuate city citizens to the Salamis islands.
• Leaves an elderly gentleman behind to give Xerxes
important information:
• “Athenians will surrender on one condition. Do not
destroy our city.”
Strike a Deal?
• Athenians claim they will encircle Persian
& Greek fleets, then hold the Greek ships
from escape, allowing the Persians to
completely destroy all fellow Greek
triremes.
• Xerxes pleased with agreement.
• Places throne on acropolis to watch his
moment of triumph.
What’s Next?
Battle of Salamis Bay
Result of Thermopylae
• Created a sense of nationalism among the Greeks as it
was the first time they Greek city-states fought together.
This continued.
• It showed Xerxes that conquering Greece was not going
to be easy. The Greeks were a strong, determinded and
skilled force. (just as Marathon had shown Darius)
• The courageous self-sacrifice of Leonidas and his men
won the Greeks two significant advantages.
– First, it bought Greeks thetime necessary to reorganize and
assemble their forces for the sea-battle to come,
• (what had to happen when such great navies were brought into
such close proximity.)
– Second and more important, it gave them a chance to prepare
for Xerxes' invasion of Attica which by now was inevitable, too.